For the first time compliance records of state child care homes and centers are available online, according to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
“Before, parents had to visit a local DHS office or travel to Oklahoma City to access that information,” said Mary Leaver, DHS spokeswoman. “The number of noncompliance episodes are listed in 27 categories, such as fire safety, behavior and guidance, infant feeding, animals, health and hazards and several other areas. The dates of each DHS visit are also included and the reason for those visits.”
The information can be viewed at www.okdhs.org.
“I don’t really see any problem with the online reports,” said Bridgette Hernandez, director of Care-A-Lot, an Ada child care center. “I do think those who are going to view the reports should be provided more information when non-compliance items are noted.”
Hernandez has worked at the Ada center, which cares for 40 children, for more than seven years, the past three as director.
“We have every DHS inspection report available for anyone to examine,” she said. “We just work very hard to stay in compliance with every DHS requirement. Our number one concern is our children, to provide them with the environment I want for my own children.”
Care-A-Lot hasn’t received any non-compliance marks or complaints during the past year, according to the DHS Web site.
“We’re proud of the job that we do,” Hernandez said. “We take it very seriously.”
Information about every child care center in Oklahoma can be downloaded. Because of privacy issues, some information, such as addresses of home child cares, is not posted online.
Oklahoma child care centers and homes will be required to make files accessible to parents beginning Oct. 1. The changes come after the death of 2-year-old Joshua Minton in May at a home day care in Tulsa. The owner of the day care, Vicki Chiles, was charged with murder. A judge entered not guilty pleas on her behalf in August.
And an unlicensed child care center operator in Weatherford was charged with first-degree murder Friday, admitting to police that she violently threw a 10-month-old boy under her care into a playpen, according to the Associated Press. Lindsay Pope is charged with the death of Luke O’Daniel.
Reports of sexual and other abuse will not be included on the compliance reports online. Those complaints are turned over to the DHS Child Welfare Department. However, child care centers are required to have those investigations on record for parents to examine.
“We hope putting compliance records online will provide parents better access to the information,” Leaver said.
Full text available at the Ada Evening News